“Like what? What do you have to do?”
“More calls. Read the report. I don’t know, stuff. You asked me to take on a case, and these things take time.”
A heavy silence followed. He swallowed, biting back words. He appreciated her and her family for everything, but it still wasn’t enough. He needed to see Amy for himself. He was so tired of waiting and trusting other people to do the right thing.
He knew he couldn’t force Winona to do anything, and the fact she was at least trying should have made him feel better. It didn’t. He didn’t think she realized the gravity of this situation. Even though she owed him nothing, he couldn’t help but feel a bubbling resentment for her lack of haste. Maybe these things—kidnapping, murder, solving crimes—took time, but she was a private investigator. Shouldn’t she be able to do something?
“I know there’s a lot of evil in this world,” Winona said, her whisper-soft words bristling along his skin and clenching his already aching heart. “Evil parents. But it’s hard for me to consider a mother doing such a thing. It hurts to even think it’s a possibility. I … I used to think the same thing about my mother.”
Winona’s voice broke, and Jake felt like an ass. But he still didn’t reply.
“At first I didn’t understand how my mom could give me up, you know? I didn’t remember her. I thought selfish parents were just a part of life. Every child I lived with in the orphanage had had the same thing happen to them. But my mom adopted me when I was thirteen, and I learned she’d done it to protect me. And then I found out about Chayton.”
He heard rustling on the phone. “I’m sorry,” Winona said. He wasn’t sure if she was about to hang up or what, but he knew he was being a jerk for not saying anything.
“Winona?”
“What?” she barked.
“I’m sorry. I appreciate your offer to come with me.”
“I know this isn’t easy for you.”
“It’s worse when I’m having a good time. Like today.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’m not meant to have a good time.”
“Why not?”
“Because.” He paused, tension knotting his shoulders. His throat tightened, making it harder to speak, harder to breathe. “Brandon. Died. And I’m out having a good time.”
He swallowed a sob. His mom, if she were still alive, would have told him to cry. Would have held him while he cried. His dad would have told him to toughen up, be a man, and experience the loss for what it was: a part of living life.
He appreciated that Winona didn’t urge him to discuss his feelings or rationalize them for him. He appreciated that she didn’t make him feel guilty for backsliding, for weakening, for suffering. For wanting to talk, but not being able to talk. She didn’t pressure him, only waited.
He stood and shut off all the lights, trying to extinguish his guilt, his life, his feelings. Stupid fucking feelings. Alcohol snuffed out all feelings, which is exactly why he had abused it for years.
“I think he would expect you to keep living and having fun,” Winona finally said, her soft voice punctuating a grievous silence.
“Oh, I know he would. Doesn’t make it any easier.”
“Are you having another pity party?” she gently teased.
Laughter rumbled low in his chest. His thighs tightened, body stirred awake. “Can I?”
“Absolutely. But you’ll have to do it alone tonight.”
“It’s no fun without you. You’re only a few miles away.”
“I just heard Chayton come home. He’s probably waiting to see if you’ll be right behind him. Or if I’ll be leaving. He’s like my guard dog. And believe me, his bite is just as bad as his bark. Besides, I’m tired. You’re tired. You need to get up early and go with Chayton. I plan on sleeping in.”
“Sounds like you’re making excuses.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But you don’t want Chayton burying you alive tomorrow, do you?”
“Well, crap. No.”
“He wouldn’t kill you slowly, either. He might be digging a hole for you right now.”
“Well, now I’m really not going out there with him. A creepy cabin in the woods. He said somewhere in the mountains.”
Winona’s laughter eased the tightness of his chest. “You’ll love it.”
“I won’t like being buried alive.”
“He’s not going to bury you alive.”
“You’re right. He’ll probably beat me with the shovel first.”
“Doubtful. He wouldn’t even hurt a spider unless provoked.”
“Well, I’ll try not to provoke him. But if he knew what I was thinking, he might feel provoked.”
“Oh? What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering what you’re wearing.”
“What?” she exclaimed. Fire feasted in his loins, erupting in his balls.
“What are you wearing?”
She giggled. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. I’m lying in bed, dreaming of you. And you should get a good night’s sleep, so you can be observant in case Chayton does try to hit you over the head with a shovel. Have fun tomorrow. And I’ll see you Saturday.”
“That’s it? You can’t leave me with that image and just hang up now.”
“Mmm hmmmm, that’s it.”
“Forget your brother trying to kill me. You’re going to kill me first.”
“Call me tomorrow when you get back.”
“Yeah. Okay. Good night, then.”
“Good night. Sweet dreams.”
“Oh, I plan to. If I ever get to sleep.”
Winona giggled and he slipped further down on his bed. He kicked off his shoes, but didn’t get up. Chances were he’d lie awake in his clothes all night, staring at the dark ceiling. His body hurt with all the four-wheeling they had done. His thighs ached, his balls burned. And he didn’t want to move lest he fall into a deep dark hole of depression.
Winona’s body could offer a temporary relief.
“Good night,” Winona said.
“Good night,” he said, but didn’t hang up.
“You hang up first,” Winona said.
“No.”
Silence.
“Okay, fine. Maybe we can just go to sleep with each other on the phone.”
“Sounds good. You ever have phone sex?”
• • •
An uneventful flight led them to Jackson, Wyoming. Stress and busyness kept Winona’s attention focused inward instead of on the beauty of the earth they passed. The plane’s engine resounded in her stomach, but she couldn’t blame her queasiness on that. She went over questions she would ask Lillian and envisioned the results.
They had gotten a late start, but she wouldn’t dare complain that Nick and his wife hadn’t been ready. They’d still be in Jackson by eleven, which was probably best anyway. Nick and his wife had asked her if she minded staying the night and what could she say to that? So she’d packed an overnight bag and wondered what in the world she was going to tell Jake.
She and Jake had talked last night about her driving to Wyoming with him, so she had to convince him to put it off another day. And when she did come with him, Lillian would give away the fact they’d already met. She couldn’t lie about the fact she’d paid the woman a visit. It was probably in her best interest to tell him the truth, but she wanted to wait until she got back home.
They checked into a hotel and Reagan stayed while Garret accompanied Winona to the address Winona had found in her investigation of Lillian. The house was taller than it was wide, situated on a narrow lot on a busy street with virtually no parking. A rusted-red roof made the white house look pale. Bushes in need of a trim bordered two windows and one plant hung limply on the front porch. A cracked sidewalk led to the front door.
Winona knocked, and knocked again. She heard thudding so knew someone was home. Finally, a voice said, “Just a minute.” Winona glanced at Garret, who had his hands at his s
ide but prepared to defend them if necessary. Neither of them relaxed.
Lillian opened the door dressed to the nines in a slinky black outfit with red stilettos and tons of jewelry. Perfume reeked from her body and her lips were embellished in bright red. Strong purple makeup highlighted her brown eyes, underlined in smoky charcoal. Modesty did not accompany her outfit, especially as it was before the noon hour.
Winona wondered if the woman was going out somewhere, or if she had just gotten home from a night of partying.
“Ms. Inman?” Winona said.
“I don’t have time for reporters right now.”
“We’re not reporters.”
“Looks like you’re going out,” Garret said, his voice drawling in a flirtation that Winona would think was sincere if she didn’t know him any better.
Lillian cooed under his gaze. She flicked a piece of hair from her eyes. “I am.”
“So soon after your daughter’s return?” he asked.
“I’m celebrating.”
“Without her?” Winona chimed in.
Lillian shot her gaze to Winona, her forehead crinkled in a scowl.
“Who are you?”
Winona handed Lillian her business card. She might have retired, but she hadn’t let go of all her supplies. “Winona Wall, private investigator.”
Lillian’s face contorted in confusion before she quickly recovered. “What’s this about?”
“You just got your daughter back. Who’s she staying with? You’re leaving her so soon to go party when you shouldn’t ever want to leave her sight again.”
“She’s staying with my mother. Her grandmother.” Her voice rose, harsh and insistent. She didn’t move from the door, didn’t invite them in or step out and close the door. Winona tried to peer behind her, but she couldn’t make out anyone else in the home. One light was on, probably for Lillian to see in the dark when she came home.
“She’s safe,” Lillian continued. “I wouldn’t leave her if I didn’t think so. My mother said I should go out and let off steam because I’ve been so stressed over the past few weeks. Can you imagine?” Her voice weakened, her gaze narrowing as if she fought to sound as fragile as possible. She swiped a tear from her eye that Winona didn’t see. Winona figured it for an act.
“I can’t imagine,” Winona said without any inflection of compassion. Until this woman proved herself, she felt nothing but contempt.
“What is this?” Lillian asked, settling her gaze on Garret, as if she’d find the sympathy she sought with him. “Did Jake put you up to this? Or Brandon’s family? They never did like me.”
“Why don’t they like you?” Garret asked. “You seem like a very caring woman who loves her child very much.” His voice was lined like a soft tissue, oozing charm and gentleness. Damn, he was good.
Lillian shrugged and leaned against the door frame. “I don’t know why they hate me so much, but I know that’s why we never made it. Never had a chance for a good relationship with all his family interfering in our lives.”
“Is his family aware of the insurance policy you had out on Brandon?” Winona asked.
Lillian’s eyes widened and she scrutinized Winona but never met her gaze. She hugged her arms across her chest, but Winona wasn’t sure if it was to lift up her cleavage or to protect herself from Winona’s questions. “We were still married, just separated. And Jake wanted to take out an insurance policy. He had a daughter to think about. Everyone with children should have an insurance policy.”
“But she wasn’t the beneficiary.”
“So? She’s a seven-year-old child.”
“You don’t have an insurance policy. You’re the sole provider for Amy now.”
“I haven’t had time to take one out.” Lillian ogled Garret again, her mouth quivering. “What is this?” she asked, tears inflecting her voice in a pathetic attempt to soften her tone. The woman might be pretty if she wasn’t tangled up in so much jewelry and makeup. Winona could see why men would fall for her and her tricks. She wondered if Jake had in the past. Was that why he hated her so much? Maybe he’d loved her at one time but she’d married his cousin instead. Maybe she’d hurt him and now he was out for revenge. Maybe the animosity she felt for this woman was nothing but jealousy.
Jealousy? Over what? Jake? No way.
A truck rumbled down the street and parked in front of the house. “I think my date is here. It’s time for you two to go.”
“Date? I thought you were still married to Brandon,” Winona said. “You just said so.”
“We were separated. And now he’s dead. Am I supposed to just stop dating? Anyway, it’s not that kind of date.”
The truck door slammed and Lillian’s eyes narrowed. Winona whirled to see Jake storming up the sidewalk. She squinted at Lillian as dread and nausea snaked through her body.
Was Jake Lillian’s date? How had she been so foolish?
Her skin tightened, crawling with animosity as she watched his shoulders bunch under his lime-green shirt. As he loped up the sidewalk, she considered running, but no way would she give him that satisfaction. She’d caught him. He hadn’t been honest with her, and now she felt like a fool.
He stopped next to Winona and glared at her. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” Lillian interrupted.
Winona whipped her head around to Lillian. Relief flooded Winona, ears ringing as her heart pounded. Apparently, Lillian hadn’t expected Jake, which meant he wasn’t her date.
Garret stood to the side, waiting. Winona appreciated his presence. Like a doorpost, he was steady to lean against and offered the support she needed. But she knew he could turn protective, even deadly, if the conditions called for it.
Jake sneered at Lillian. “I came to see Amy.”
“So you didn’t hire this woman to investigate me?” Lillian asked Jake.
Jake looked down at Winona, his gaze sliding into hers and nearly melting her toes. Winona straightened her spine and stood her ground. “She hasn’t accepted yet.”
• • •
Jake wasn’t sure how to feel about Winona being here, but anger fueled him. She’d done everything to refuse the job he’d asked her to do, even after he’d begged and pleaded. She’d promised she’d come with him tomorrow, but now she was here with Garret. He planned to have a talk with her later, but now wasn’t the time.
After their phone call last night, Jake had been unable to sleep. He’d paced, he’d read, he’d prayed. Finally, he got out of bed and started driving. He’d called Chayton early this morning and apologized for being unable to make their trip, never expecting to see Winona standing at Lillian’s door. They’d talked about coming together, but he hadn’t wanted to bother her in the middle of the night and he wanted to do this by himself. He wanted to see Amy for the first time on his own so he could break down privately.
“Where’s Amy?” he asked Lillian.
Garret stood by the door, silent and watchful like a nighthawk waiting to pounce on its prey. Jake wasn’t sure at the moment who was the prey. Jake hadn’t officially met Garret, but he recognized him from his research on Winona.
“With her grandmother,” Lillian answered. “And I was just heading out when your friends accosted me.”
“Headed out where?” Looked to him like wherever she was going involved a huge party. He didn’t like that Amy had just been found, was probably still scared out of her mind, and her mother planned to go out drinking, dancing, and no telling what else. He’d always known she was a selfish woman, but the fact she was leaving her child alone with a grandmother she barely knew bothered him, especially because right now he could do nothing about it.
“Like I told your friends here, that’s none of your concern.”
“It is my concern when Amy is in danger.”
“She’s no longer in danger.”
“She’s always in danger where you’re concerned.”
Lillian flicked her hair, the bangles of bracelets she w
ore on her arm snapping down her forearms. “Oh, Jake, get over yourself.”
“I want to see Amy.”
“Today is no good. She’s hanging out with her grandmother. She’s fine. She’s been playing a lot. Hasn’t even asked for you or her dad.”
Jake stepped forward, his fury rising. Garret perched a hand on his arm. Nonthreatening, but warning him to stay calm. Winona took his hand in hers. He wasn’t sure why she did it, but he clenched hers and didn’t let go.
“We’ll settle this another time,” Winona told Jake. “Let’s have lunch and talk about things.”
“I’m not leaving until I see Amy.”
“Amy isn’t here,” Lillian said.
Jake narrowed his eyes at Lillian. She lifted her chin higher. He wrenched his hand out of Winona’s grip and faced her. Better to take his anger out on her instead of pummeling Lillian and possibly getting his assed kicked by Garret. “You lied to me.”
“You lied to me. Told me you were going with Chayton today. I never told you my plans.”
“I said I was considering going with Chayton today. You only assumed.”
“And I assumed we would be coming here tomorrow, together.”
“Then why are you here now?” Jake asked.
“Can you continue this lover’s quarrel away from my front porch, please?” Lillian asked.
White-hot fury propelled him forward, toward Lillian, but again, Garret grasped him by the arm and pulled him back. Jake fisted his hands at his sides and stepped back. Garret dropped his hand.
“Lillian.” Garret’s voice was weighted with authority and command, demanding attention. Everyone stopped to listen, turning to watch him. “Jake would like to see Amy so he can feel better about knowing she’s okay. He’s tense right now because he’s worried about her. Will you allow him to have breakfast with her tomorrow? Can we pick her up in the morning and spend the day with her?” Garret’s words were too pure, too smooth, and Jake looked at him in disbelief. Was this guy for real?
Lillian flustered under Garret’s gaze. Even if he wasn’t for real, whatever he was doing seemed to be working.
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